An observation regarding the race for Governor.

[nickshepDEM]

As some of you know, I live in Dundalk, MD. A suburb located approximately 2-3 miles from Baltimore City. I like to refer to my area as a very blue collard, populist type of town. People here are economically liberal, but socially conservative. Several years ago workers from Bethlehem Steel and General Motors ruled this area. We still have a strong union presence, but nothing like it was 15-20 years ago.

Anyway, on with my story...

I see this truck today (I believe it was a Ford F-250) completely decked out with 2006 bumper stickers. While I’m sitting at the red light I decide to zoom in on who this guy is supporting. Here is the list...

*Norman Stone (D) for State Senate
*Johnny Olszewski Jr. (D) for Delegate
*Dutch (D) for Congress.
*Johnny Olszewski Sr. (D) for County Council
*Minnick (D) for Delegate
*Cardin (D) for Senate

and last, but not least -

**Another Democrat for Ehrlich

Well, it got me thinking about 2002. If the same turnover effect (moderate/conservative dem’s going for Ehrlich) occurs in 2006 that occurred in 2002, we’re goanna be in for a super tight race; a race that Ehrlich could potentially win.

Anyway, I’m just raising it as a point, and hopefully O’Malley takes note. The Baltimore suburbs are full of pockets of voters that resemble what I described above. O'Malleys platform is going to have to bring in some moderate/conservative Democrats or he’s going to suffer the same fate as KKT. How he does this, I have no idea, but hopefully some of the policy wonks and consultants working on his campaign do, because Id love to see him pull it out next year. The guy is a rock star and has a very bright future ahead of him in Democratic politics; however, all of that will come to an end with a loss in November.

[DaveinMD]

1. O'Malley

will do much better there than Kennedy did. Another good barometer is Little Italy in Baltimore. Those folks were big O'Malley supporters and went heavily for Ehrich. There isn't much room for Ehrlich to grow, but O'Malley has the potential to grow greatly over KKT, Howard and Baltimore County leading the way.

[nickshepDEM]

2. I had no idea...

Little Italy went strongly for Ehrlich in 2002. Any idea what caused those voters to turn to Ehrlich?

[DaveinMD]

3. same type of Democrats

who live in Dundalk.

[aintitfunny]

4. There are those who wear a sign claiming to be

a Democrat for Ehrlich.. many of these same people voted for Bush and now regret it sharply. I think they use the term Democrat too freely in these cases. The race will tighten but it is - mkake no mistake - it is O'Malley's race to lose. I will not discredit Ehrlich the fight, he will battle and as has been said before, it won't be pretty, nor will it be easy, and I am sure there will be surprises, but O'Malley is not KKT, and 2006 is not 2000. I am ready to got to the mat to make sure we take back our state in 06. That fellow Dems feel the same - that fellow Dems will be willing to work and participate in the fight will go a long way to making a difference.

[Polecat]

5. I'm not going to lie to you...

...even though I get bashed here for saying so, my ballot will have at least 1 (R) checked, and it will be Ehrlich. Duncan was the only shot of bringing me back into the mix. O'Malley is no better of an answer than Ehrlich to me...and quite frankly, the prospect of having Sheila Dixon as mayor of the city scares me.

Incidently, I never voted for Bush ('00 or '04)

[aintitfunny]

6. Thanks for your honesty

Though your logic is unclear to me, and when you say "my ballot will have at least 1 (R) checked" that sounds like you could potentially support other Republican candidates as well.

I don't understand why you did not vote for Bush, but like Ehrlich better then O'Mally since Ehrlich carries water for the Bush Administration.

If O'Mally is no better of an answer than Ehrlich to you, then why, as a Democrat, are you voting against the interests of your party. I'm having a hard time buying the Sheila Dixon excuse. Why are you so afraid of her - are you a city resident? 4 more years of Ehrlich selling out the state, destroying the environment, working to support the corporate world and our wealthiest citizens while removing all safety nets for the working poor. 4 more years of no new taxes except for doubling the tolls and doubling the fees for tags and other services and tripling the filing fee for property taxes. 4 more years of photo ops and fakery. That is what should really scare you.

Now I assume you are a Democrat because you are posting on this board.

DISCUSSION FORUM RULES EXCERPT:

"Who We Are: Democratic Underground is an online community for Democrats and other progressives. Members are expected to be generally supportive of progressive ideals, and to support Democratic candidates for political office. Democratic Underground is not affiliated with the Democratic Party, and comments posted here are not representative of the Democratic Party or its candidates."

[Polecat]

7. What's the deal with the excerpt?

Is that some form of admonishment? Also, questioning if I'm really a Democrat?

Perhaps you need to be informed that there is a blue dog faction of the Democratic party that doesn't share your socialist (acting under the veil of the term 'progressive') values (i.e. Ruppersburger, Lieberman, etc.), mmcghenn. Your spin is out of control.

Look, if you don't like me here ban me, and I'll leave. In the meantime, 'Ignore' is a useful function, feel free to co-use it with me.

[LynneSin]

12. Yes I am

When you risk having a Governor that will take away the rights of women to make their own decision for their bodies, the rights of the workers to have jobs and get health insurance and the reasons as to why we need to clean up the Chesapeake Bay then I question your party if you think voting for Erhlich is the solution.

[aintitfunny]

14. No one has called me a Socialist

for 35 years or so, and at that time it was my Republican Grandmother who called me a "Commie".

If the blue dog faction supports Republican candidates then at best they are DINO's?

Are you claiming that Ruppersburger or even the beleaguered Leiberman would not support the Democrat O'Malley over the Republican Ehrlich. I would bet money that you are seriously mistaken. they may not be progressive but they would support the Democrat, no doubt.

As for the excerpt, it speaks for itself, it is just the rules of the road here, you may choose to do with it what you want. I would not ban you if I had the power, that is between you and the powers that be. I do believe that this board is not the place to advocate for Ehrlich's re-election.

Thanks for your invitation to ignore, and feel free to shut out mine or any other voices that question your party affiliation as you announce that you are voting for "at least" one Republican in the coming election.

[philmo]

9. But why vote for Ehrlich over O'Malley anyway?

That portion of the license is pretty disturbing to me. I can understand that they'd want to reserve the right to ban conservatives who just come to troll, but that still seems a little Orwellian to me.

So polecat, what are your real reasons for perferring Ehrlich over O'Malley? I have heard people say that Duncan was the more progressive candidate but I don't know why they came to that conclusion. And of course the infamous "O'Malley has baggage" argument which doesn't really bother me. It certainly seems to me personally that no one could be worse than Ehrlich, but I admittedly only began backing O'Malley over Duncan from the beginning because O'Malley seemed like he had the better chance to beat Ehrlich (though all the zoning things did bother me a lot about Duncan).

[mdguss]

8. It's more complicated than the Charter says:

Yes, Ms. Dixon could end up being Mayor Dixon. And if that happens, and I think it's probably 50/50, she'll be an ineffective, temporary place-holder Mayor for a whopping year (the next election is in 2007).

But Ms. Dixon's case is still being looked at by the ethics board (Chiared by UB President Bob Bologomony. The ethics board could well prevent Ms. Dixon from ever becoming Mayor Dixon.

So go ahead and vote for Ehrlich. Vote for a Governor who will ignore judge's rulings to increase funding to city schools. Go ahead and vote for a Governor that will take hope away from those who live in inner-city Baltimore. Go ahead and vote for a Governor that will ignore the state's largest jurisdiction. It surely makes perfect sense to do all of those things to prevent 11 months of Mayor Dixon. (I'm being sarcastic).

People that might become Mayor in 2007:
Stu Simms (if he loses the AG race, but I don't think that will happen).
Rep. Cummings (he may not want to leave Washington, but if he ran, he'd win).
Pat Jessame (this would annoy O'Malley, but it would be better than Mayor Dixon).
Dr. Audry Bundley (would also annoy the O'Malley crowd, but he got 33% on very little the last time).

People who have an outside chance:
Sen. Verna Jones
Three or four members of City Council
A few delegates.

People who have a way outside chance:
Sen. Paul Sarbanes (he's retired and a city resident).
Shelia Dixon

Who I wish was still alive because he would've been a great Mayor:
Pete Rawlings.

Go ahead, vote for Ehrlich because of Dixon. She may not become Mayor at all. And if she does become Mayor, it'll only be for a few months,

[LynneSin]

13. Don't forget the Chesapeke

http://www.firedupmaryland.com/political_pollution

[nickshepDEM]

17. Great post, guss. Just out of curiousity... What made you turn

so strongly against Ehrlich? I remember several months (maybe a year) ago you were praising him.

By the way, my money is on Bundley. I was reading about him the other day and was rather impressed.

But what we really need in Baltimore is a Corey Booker-like candidate.

[LynneSin]

11. That's pathetic

Glad you like a guy who will allow Wal-Mart to bilk your tax dollars to pay for their uninsured employees. Thankfully it was democrats that overrode that veto.

And as a neighbor in Delaware who shares the Chesapeake Bay, we (along with Virginia) are saddened to see how Ehrlich refuses to work with us to help clean up the Bay, allowing manufactures to continue dumping into the bay and helping to kill it off completely. We need a democrat in Maryland to recognize the importance of a healthy Chesapeake Bay.

[nickshepDEM]

18. Hear, hear!

[LynneSin]

10. O'Malley only needs to look north for his plan

Ed Rendell won because he utilized his strongest base, swamped it with volunteers and ensured high voter turnout in order to secure the win. And not only did that work in the general election in 2002 but even his very demanding primary race against the favored Bob Casey Jr.

Baltimore (and perhaps some of the DC suburbs) will be O'Malley's strong hold. He needs to have ever election voting place covered several times over (because that's where republicans will target voter harassment) and push hard to get everyone possible out to vote in Baltimore. Then, if he gets a commanding vote in Baltimore it will compensate for the fact that he probably will not win any of the rural counties of Maryland

[TrueFunkSoldier]

15. As I sit with tears welling in my eyes...

The late, great Honorable Howard "Pete" Rawlings would have indeed been an outstanding mayor of Baltimore. I worked for him for several years in the Appropriations Committee. Although I didn't agree with some of his moderate-leaning politics, he was certainly an exceptional statesman, clear-headed, pratical leader...an American patriot and a good friend...

[mdguss]

16. Absolutely:

Del. Rawlings was a great guy. I never got the chance to work with him. But I know many people who did. They all had a huge amount of respect for him. Maryland needs more people like him.